Latch



H. O. WILSON April 10, 1951 LATCH Filed July 18, 194'? FIG.2

FIG.

FIG 5 IWW/mfom HERBERT O WILSON 2 @tkm/m FIGA Patented Apr. 10, 1951 UNITED STAT ESS "PATENT OF FICE LATCH l Herbert 0.5Wilson, Berea, Ohio Application July 18, 194i?, Serial No. 761,920

7 Claims. (c1. 22u-55) This Yinvention relates generally to latch mechanisms, nand` particularly to latch mechanisms for retaningra closurey member securely with respect toa container.

. VVIt is anrobject ofV the inventionf'to provide Va A :latch Vmechanism for closure members which 4shall be subject to quick and easy latching kand unlatching without the use of tools.

Itisa further object of the invention-to pro-- vide a latch Vmechanism for closure lmembers which shall be capable of exerting extreme .pressures against thev closure member .in response to manual operation. f

It is still a further object of the. invention to I provide .ajmanually operable latch for use conj junction with closure members :for

-Water tightyseals.

gtisanother objectof theinvention to provide `V`afspring loaded latchof novel construction and 4operating in accordance :with novel principles.

It issti-ll `another-object of the invention Vto provide dogging means for watertight closures,

,utiiizxation of Vwhich shall enable readyand rapid application and removal of such closures.

" A further object of the invention resides in the `jprovision of Ya compact latching mechanism, whichshall-minimize the total space required -for the mechanism, and which shall be susceptible of combination with containers in such manner. Y,as toeffect maximum utilization of space when @combining a plurality of containers in a single area. y

VStill a further objectief the invention com- Yprises theprovision ofa latching Lmechanism z which is restricted in its space requirements, and

'whichwhen combined with a container fo-rclosure purposes requires no increase in lateral di- .mensions occupied' by the container.

Briefly described, my inventionconsistsY of-va latching, locking or dogging mechanism; one .or

y more gif-which may be secured to aclosure mem- -ber of a containen--as by `vvelding,-anc1 which lfenables the application of considerable pressure Y member and bearing against the container.

effecting v point' intermediate rthe r lip and the retaining BY positioning the thumb screw in the sliding mem-'- ber in a position closer to the lip than to the retaining member, a considerable mechanical advantage-is obtainable, the lip forming, whenengaged with the projection associated with the container, thefulcrum of a leverto which force is applied by the screw,'and the lipl being readily disengageable froml the projectionswhen: screw pressure is removed,` by a simple A'sliding motion of the slidablemember. A

.In the' known prior art, ,waterl tight-closures vareefiect'ed'by dogging down a closure member, V,such as a cover or a hatch o r the like,;witha plura'lityof screw down dogs, vthe closure member being' held downbydire'ct application ofajforcegenerated by a nut rotating threadedly on a bolt;

' Inorder to` obtain considerable closure pressure,

VVwithmechanism of'the above character, considerable"'force mustbe applied "to Athe nut, and where, as is usuaLa plurality of [dogs is utilized ,between the closure member and the container by-simple turning ofa thumb screw, the latching mechanism AVbeing vprovided with al slidable -member `hav-ing a protruding lipat one end,ganda retaining member at the other, ,the latter being spring loaded inrone embodimentlvof/ the .invention,l and unloaded inanotherfand the protruding lip engagingan underY side ofa .projection for securingY a cover member or alhatch,'con

siderable difiiculty is encountered in removing the dogs, since releaseof pressure at some points by release/of pressure on some of the dogs, results in springing .of the cover and consequent y.binding of the remaining dogs. Practically, in order to release a cover orv hatchsecured `by conventional bolt type dogs, it has been necessary to release pressure in substantially'equal stepsapplied to all the dogs, working 'offthe pressure gradually and simultaneously at'all points. `This is a time consuming process and a troublesome anddelicate one, and failure to release'pressure equally on all dogs is common despite care taken 'in the process, resulting' in the aforementioned binding effect.

Time consumption and the requirement of care "in a cover releasing operation is of particular consequence, where 'thedogged container contains *gear which is subject to maintenance, and wherein maintenance-must be effectedl rapidly; yAn ex- -ampleis to be lfoundin electronic devices'containedin water-proof housing, and utilized Y byV l the Armed Forces vunder battle conditions Such gear must be maintained in ar sealed, housing or container, but mustV be :susceptible of .practically 4instantaneous-access uponii failure, .zand after `maintenance is completed must be susceptible of rapidl re-enclosure.

VA furtherl important Yand outstanding feature of the .present yinvention resides in that the latches are secured to the closureand do not projecttherebeyond, which makesfor a clean case latching mechanism thereto;

3 having no mechanisms overlapping its side walls. This enables maximum utilization of storage space. The construction of the latches, further, is such that minimum height is occupied thereby, so that the height of cases equipped with my invention is not unduly extended.

It is to containers and closures for gear of the above character, that my invention nds primary and important application, although I wish it to be understood that other applications, features and advantages will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the pertinent art.

The above features and advantages of my latch may be summarized as follows:

l. Latches are mounted on the closure member, Y

which assures a container or case with clean side Walls, minimizing loss of volume. y Y 2- The use 0f Spring loading assures thatA gasket set will be taken up.

3. The use of spring loadingreduces time required for locking and unlocking the latch since Y For a better and more complete understanding ofthe invention, and of further features, objects and applications thereof,` reference may now be had to the following detailed description of'two specic embodim-entsfof the invention, in which referenceis made to the accompanying drawings, wherein theY saine reference numerals are applied 'to identical parts inthe several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a vertical section taken through a container or recpetacle having a water tight closure, and showing the application of my novel Figure 2 is a plan View of an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section taken l on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

'Figure 5 isv a fragmentary view, in longitudinal and verticalsection, of a modication of the embodiment of Figures 2 to 4 inclusive;

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 6-5 of Figure 5; and n Figure 7 is a View in perspective of a detail of Figures 5 and 6.

Vwall thereof which serves to support a cover or closure member 4. Intermediate the ange 3 and the closure member 4 may be provided a gasket 5, fabricated of rubber, cork, or the like, which serves in response to pressure of the closure member 4 against the flange 3 to effect a water tight sealing of the container 2. It is the function of the latch I to exert force against the closure member 4, and, in order to provide an anchor for the latch I, the walls of the container 2, are extended beyond the flange 3, and provided with an inwardly extending lip 6.

The latch I is welded to the closure member 4, or otherwise secured thereto, and for this purpose is provided with a ilat metallic base member 'I having lateral projections 8 and 9, which are readily available for the application of welding tools.

A slidable member Ill is provided as part of the latch I, which is constructed at its forward end.` with an upwardly curving lip II, the latter serving to impinge upon the under side of the inwardly extending lip 6 when the latch is in operative position, as shown in Figure l. The rearward end I2 of the sliding member I0 is bent upwardly at right angles to the closure member 4, and serves as a stop, determining the limit of forward movementof the slidable member- Il! .by impinging upon the rearward edge I3 of a U-shaped bracket I4 having its open end welded, or otherwise firmly secured, as at ,15, to the base member 1, astride the slidable vvmember III. f

The slidable member I includes a portion I6 extending rectilinearly for slightly more than half its length forwardly from the rearward end I2 thereof, which is perpendicular with the rearward and upwardly bent end I2. The rectilinear portion I6 is parallel to the base member 'I and slidable in contact therewith when the latch is in unlocked condition. Forwardly of the rectilinear portion I the slidable member rises on a slope of about as at I1, and there- 'after extends in a direction parallel to the rectilinearportion IG to the lip 6, as at I8, between a pair of guide members la.

The vunderside of the portion I8 of the slidable member Iii is providedwith a nut IB, welded thereto, and provided with a threaded aperture which extends through portion I8, and which threadedly accommodates a thumb screw-20 having a head 2l, the screw 20 resting against the base 'I' so that rotation of the screw causes movement of slidable member Ill.Y

The transverse wall of the LJ-shaped bracket I4 is provided with a depression 22, which nests internally of the upper end of a coil spring 23. 'I'he side walls of bracket I4 are provided with oppositely positioned slotsl 24 extending for a short distance from a position upwardly of the base member 'I and of the slidable member I0.

' which is provided with a rise 21, centrally thereof, for engaging the under end of the coil spring 2-3.V Intermediate the slidable-member IU and the flat strip 26 is a flat strip of soft metal 28, as brass or copper, which isy secured against sliding motion by a pair of lugs 29 extending upwardly therefrom and through a pair of apertures 30 provided therefor in the flat strip 26.

K Ina locking operation, the slidable member 'III is pushed forward with respect to the base member "I, moving between guide members 1a, and the screw 2i] is turned untilV the lip II engages the under side of the inward projection 6. Further rotation of the screw then causes slidable member II) topivot aboutthe point of contact between screw 20 and base "I,v the point 'I' being retained substantiallymotionless, and the portion I6 of slidable member I 0-rises against the expansive force of helical spring 23, compressing same. As the spring 23 is compressed it "ai-,54ans 'against projection Eby lever'auction, the ultimate consequence being that a downward force is impressed on closure d equal to the pressure exerted by spring 2 3, multiplied by the mechanical advantage due to the difference in distance from screwZD to lip il, and from'screw 20 to spring A23. -The lugs having vbut a limited possibility of travel in slots 24, determine the limit of compression of springZS, beyond which the slidable Vmember I is rigidly-held atboth point Il and 'in' conjunction with anyk closure member, the

exact number depending upon the size of the closure member and the service required. A closure member may be latched or locked in place to provide a water tight seal in a matter of but a few seconds, and released in an equally short period of time, no binding action being possible by reason ci the resilience or spring 23, which acts to load the latch to an extent determined by its compression. No care is required with respect to the sequence in which the latches are unlocked, a feature of great value, particularly under trying conditions of manipulation.

A further preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in Figures 5` to 7 inclusive of the drawings, this .embodiment Vbeing identical in almost all respects with that of Figures Vl to 4 inclusive, but departing therefrom in that sube' stantially no spring loading is provided.

Referring particularly to Figures 5 and 6, vit will be evident that the rearward portion I6 of slidable member it rides under a U-shaped bracket 30, which is welded to base l, asiat l5, in a manner and in a position identical with the bracket it. The bracket 3%, however, contains no slots and is of but slight height, just adequate to enableV passage thereunder of the slidable member iii, and for the further accommodation of a light nat spring 3i, shown in detail in Fig ure '7 of the drawings, and which has a pair or upstanding sides 32 formed by bending, which straddle the transverse member of U-shaped bracket 39, to prevent sliding'motion of spring member Sii. the sliding member iii by virtue of a pair of downwardly bent tongues 33, cut from the spring 3| and forming part thereof. The spring 3i functions primarily to prevent rattling, vibration, and undesired movement of the slidable member I0, serving to provide friction between slidable member lll and bracket 30. Any loading provided by spring 3@ is asecondary effect, and is of slight or no importance;

While the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4 inclusive is preferred over that of Figures 5 to 7 inclusive, by reason of its spring loading, the latter modification presents certain simplicities and economies of construction, which render it pare ticularly desirable for many purposes. In opera-#j .70. sufciently similar to that of Figures 1 to 4 intion, the species of Figures 5 to '7 inclusive is elusive,A that a detailed description thereof may be dispensed with. g

While I have described two specic embodi ments of my invention, it will be clear to those Slight pressure is exerted againstfamiliar with the-pertinentH art, that modifica-a tions inV details of construction and arrangement of parts maybe resorted-to without departing rom the Vtruespiritandlsoopeof the invention,

`as `deiined in the appended claims.

What I claima-ndl desi-re to secure by Letters Patent of the United-States is:

1. In combination a base member, a member slidable with respect tosad base member, means for restricting motion'of saidhslidable member in respect Yto the path ofY said motion` andthe extent ofsaid motion, Ameans for vactuating' one'portion of saidfslidable member in a'fdirection substan tially at right angles to -thepath'oi said motion 'and vmeansdor restraining `motion-of a' further portion only o-said slidable member against Vsaid motion substantially-at right angles to the-rpath of said motion.

2. The combination with a container having a-nY aperture land a closure and a shoulder forv supporting said closure to close said aperture. and a lip externally of said aperture, of a latch-A ing mechanism having a base secured to said clo-4 sure externally thereof and a double ended latch member guidedly movable with respect to said base, and means located intermediate the ends of said double ended latch member for pressingv one end oi said latch member againstsaid lip for creating a separative force between said lip and said closure, whereby to press said closure against said shoulder, and means for spring load- Ying the other end of said latch member to provide a :force equal and opposite to said separative force.

3. The combination in :accordance withclaim 2 wherein is provided means for restricting movement of the other end of ksaid latch member.

4. The combination in accordance with claim 3 wherein said means for pressing comprises a screw threadedly passing through said guidedly movable latch member and bearing against said closure.

5..A latching mechanism comprising a base member, means slidable with respect to said base member into and out of latching position, screw means for raising and ,lowering said slidable means into and out of locking position, said slidable member having two relatively remotely located end portions, said screw means threadedly engaging said slidable member at a point intermediate said end portions, means for securing oneof. said end portions against greater than a predetermined motion, and means for preventing translatory motion of said screwl means.

6. A latching mechanism for a container comprising, a base member, a slidable latch movable parallel to the plane of said base member and having a latching end and a loading end,means tending to restrain said loading end against movement perpendicular to said base member, means for securing said latching end, and screw means located intermediate said latching end and said loading end tending to move said latch perpendicular to said base member, said screw means comprising a screw extending threadedly through said latch substantially perpendicular to said base member and bearing against ,said

base member.

7. A latching mechanismior securing `a clo- Vsure with respect to an aperture, comprising,

being in contact with said supporting means, ay

base for said latching mechanism, means for securing said base to said closure, a latch member for said iatching mechanism engageable with said anchor means, and rotatable screw means actuable for pressing said latch member against said anchor means in a direction tending to separate said base and said anchor means, whereby to press said closure against said supporting means, said rotatable screw means actuable for pressing comprising a screw threadedly passing through said latch member and bearing against said closure, rotation of said screw pressing said latch member against said anchor means, said latch member comprising two ends, one of said ends engaging said anchor means, and means for restraining movement of the other end, said screw passing through said latch member intermediate said two ends.

HERBERT o. WILSON.

8 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Nam-e Date 429,630 Kenyon June 10, 1890 641,471 Scheel Jan. 16, 1900 766,066 Sanders July 26, 1904 946,172 Tayntor Jan. 11, 1910 1,062,075 Arens May 2o, 1913 1,477,585 Owen Dec. 18, 1923 1,487,653 Hart Mar. 18, 1924 1,492,088 Schmitz Apr. 29, 1924 1,977,100 Thompson Oct. 16, 1934 1,988,360 Moore Jan. 15., 1935 2,121,596 Hill June 21, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 657,088 Germany Feb. 24, 1938 

